Sectional wall cabinet



Aug. 29, 1950 o. MANKKl SECTIONAL WALL CABINET 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 14, 1946 INVENTOR. UNIV/E MAN/(M Aug. 29, 1950 o. MANKKI SECTIONAL. WALL CABINET 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 14, 1946 E; INVENTOR. I ONN/E MANKKI H6 7 m, 7416407,, 0 W

Aug. 29, 1950 o. MANKKI SECTIONAL WALL CABINET 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 7 Filed March 14, 1946 INVENTOR. 0NNIE MAN/(Kl Anne/vs 75 Patented Aug. 29, 1950 2,52%,5llt

UNITED STATES .PATEN-T OFFICE 2,520,505 SECTIONAL WALL CABINET Onnie Manklri, Cleveland Heights, Ohio, assignor to Designers for industry, .1110,, Cleveland, Ohio,

a corporation of Ohio Application March 14, 1946, Serial No. 654,430

This invention relates to cabinets of the type commonly known as built-in cabinets such as are frequently placed in leitchens and bathrooms.

These cabinets must be easily transported and installed,capable of being used as a single or *m-ulti-sectional unit, attractive in appearance,

and economical.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved cabinet construction, employing prefabricated par-ts, which can be shipped knocked-down as an assembly kit and easily installed where desired, thus reducing shipping costs and damage in transit.

Another-object of the invention is to provide a cabinet construction of the built-in type such that one or more walls of the cabinet areprcvided "by the walls of the room in which the cabinet is installed. l

v A further object of the invention is to provide an improvedpabinet construction of prefabri- -oated parts which'are susceptible of mass production and readily assembled as either a single or multi-sectional unit.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved cabinet construction which employs prefabricated, substantially rectangular, "frame members, adapted to be attached to one .or' more walls of a room, to form the corners of a cabinet, the said frame members being also adapted to receive a plurality of horizontally extending members to form compartments in the *cabinet;

It is also an object of the invention to provide an improved cabinet construction which employs prefabricated, substantially rectangular, frame members adapted to be attached to a wall and ceiling of aroom to form the corners of a ceiling or wall cabinet.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an improved cabinet construction which employs prefabricated frame members, adapted to be attached to one or more walls of a room, toprovi'de-the corners of a wall andfloor supported cabinet; said frame members having means thereon forming guidewaysfor one or more drawers in the completed'cabinetysaid frame members also forming the support for a top and sides of the finished cabinet.

Gther -objectsand advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:-

- --'Figil"is a'perspective view of a cabinet, constructed in accord'ance withthis invention, showing-two sectionsunited together to forma single 10 Claims. (01.312-108) unit which is mounted in the corner of a room; Fig.2 is an exploded view of the cabinet shown in Fig. 1 illustrating the improved frame members and their mode of assembly with panels forming the top, shelves and a side;

Fig. 3 is. a fragmentary top planar view of the rear corner of the cabinet top illustrated in Fig.

i l, a portion of the top surface being broken away to illustrate thefiange employed for mounting the-top on the frame members;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a modified cabinet having a plurality of shelves and drawers,

constructed in accordance with this invention, with the shelves, top, and one side each formed from single panels of wood, the drawers and doors being removed;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the section line 5-5 of Fig. 4 and illustrating the base member and its mode of connection to the front of the cabinet which is partially supported thereby;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view of the front portionof one of the frame members illustrated in Fig. 4- showing on an enlarged scale, the details -of the drawer guide attached thereto;

Fig. 7 is a perspective, partially exploded, View of the cabinet shown in Fig. 4 showing the drawers and doors which are to be assembled therewith toform the completed cabinet;

- Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a cabinet, constructed in accordance with this invention, and

attached to the ceiling and a wall of a room;

- Fig. 9 isa perspective view of the frame members and shelves employed in the cabinet of Fig. 8,

the parts being shown in detached relationship ,priorto their assembly in a completed cabinet;

Fig/l0 is a perspective view illustrating the frame members and shelves of the cabinet of Fig. -8 is their assembled positions and also show ing; in spacedrelationship, the side panel which is to be attached thereto; and,

invention, it should be noted that an essential 'iieature of the inventionresides in the fact that the cabinets are of a built-in type so that one or more of their sides are formed by the walls and/or ceiling of a room in which they are placed; the said walls and/ or ceiling also serving as 'the main supporting means for the cabinets so that important savings in materials are effected. Also, theconstruction is such that the elements forming each cabinet may be shipped 3 in knocked-down condition and assembled on the job to fit the requirements of each particular installation. Furthermore, the construction is such that the cabinets may be assembled as separate units or as a continuous series of units in any desired combination.

Turning now to Fl l of the drawings, the cabinet illustrated therein comprises two sections, one section having three drawers arranged in vertical relationship and the other section having a drawer at the top with a plurality of shelves therebelow. These two sections are mounted in the corner of a room. so that one of the walls, A, thereof forms one side for the unit and the other wall, B, forms the back of the completed cabinet, the details of the internal construction being illustrated in Fig. 2.

As shown in Fig. 2, a plurality of vertical frame members ill, ii, l2 and A3 are provided to form the corners of the cabinet assembly illustrated in Fig. 1. Each of these frame members is shown as formed from a single strip of metal, having a channel-shaped cross section, and shaped to a generally rectangular configuration with one side of the rectangle (in this case the top) being incomplete. A plurality of holes are provided at spaced points along the webs of the channelshaped frame members for attachment to a wall of the room and for connection of the other elements of the cabinet in a manner which will be subsequently described. While I have illustrated these frame members as each formed from a single strip of channel-shaped metal, it will, of course, be obvious that a similar construction can be provided by employing materials other than metal and by forming the frame members from a plurality rather than from a single piece of material. Also, the channel-shaped cross section of the frame members is not essential but provides a relatively rigid construction when light-weight materials are employed.

The frame members iii and Ii, forming the corners for the left hand section of the cabinet shown in Fig. i, are shown as being provided with a plurality of horizontally extending channel-shaped members i which may be welded or otherwise secured to the inner flanges of the frame members it and it. These latter channel-shaped members it provide the guideways for the drawers 5% which are employed in the cabinet and to facilitate the sliding of these drawers within the guideways, the forward edge of the lower flange of members M is provided with a roller it, upon which the drawer i5 rides. The means for guiding the drawers E5 in the guideways formed by the channel-shaped members is may be formed in a variety of ways well known in the art. For the purpose of illustration, I have shown this guide means as constituting a small roller or bearing El attached to the lower rear portion of the sides of the drawers i5 (see Fig. 7). The frame members 52 and 23 are similar to the frame members it and i i, except that each of the former has but one channel-shaped member 2 2- secured thereto to form a drawer guideway.

The frame members it, H, 52 and 53 are placed in upright position in planes extending normal to the wall of the room on which they are to be mounted and are attached to the said wall by means of screws or other fastening means passing through certain of the spaced holes E8 in the frame members and into the wall therebehind. The spacing between the frame members iii and H corresponds to the width of the drawers l5 and similarly the spacing between the members i2 and i3 is substantially that of the drawer 15. The frame members ii and i2 are placed closely adjacent each other and may be connected together by means of connecting plates It provided with holes through which stove bolts, self-tapping screws, or other connecting means may pass for cooperation with certain of the holes it in the frame members it and I2. These connecting plates is are provided to strengthen the cabinet construction and prevent the sections thereof from separating slightly. The connecting plates is are not, however, essential and may be omitted if desired.

In mounting the frame members iii, H, M and i3 upon the wall of the room, the lower transverse portion 23 of the said members is spaced upwardly from the floor of the room. In order to close this space and provide a support for the front of the cabinets, base panel members 2| are provided which may be attached by any suitable means, such as stove bolts, to holes 58 in the forward portion of the said transverse side 20 of the frame members. These base panels 2i may be formed from sheet metal having inturned flanges along their longitudinal edges in which suitable holes are provided for the aforementioned connection to the frame members iii, ll, l2 and I3. In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 it will be observed that the end frame member it lies against the wall A of the room so that this side of the cabinet is closed by the said wall and no side panel is needed. Likewise, since the frame members if M, ii! and i3 are connected to the wall B, no rear panel is needed for the cabinets. The right-hand side of the cabinet is illustrated as being closed by a panel member 22 which may be formed from sheet metal having inturned flanges provided with spaced holes therein for attachment to the frame member !3, as will be apparent from Fig. 2. The front flange of the side panel 22 may be provided with rectangular cut-out portions 23 to expose a portion of the frame member 83 at spaced points along its front side.

The top of each of the cabinets is provided with sheet metal panels 2'? of identical construction. lhese panels have downwardly and inwardly extending flanges 28 on the front and sides thereof, as is shown in Fig. 3. The inwardly extending flanges 28 are parallel with and spaced from the top surface of the panels 27 and suitable holes 29 are provided in the said flanges for connection to the upper side of the framemembers I9, H, 1'2 and E3. The space within the right-hand cabinet of Fig. 1, below the single drawer l5, may be divided into several compartments by means of shelves 38 (see Fig. 2), which are formed from sheet metal panels provided with flanges having holes adjacent the corners for attachment to the holes E8 in the frame members.

A door 24 is provided to close the front of the shelf portion of the right-hand section of the cabinet illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the door being provided with conventional hinges 25 (see Fig. '7) which are attached to the frame member 83 at the points corresponding to the cut-out portions 23 in the front flange of side panel 22. The space below the frame member I 3 at the side of the cabinet may be closed by a base panel 26 similar to the previously described base panel 2|.

While the construction of the cabinets illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 has been described as formed from metal frame members and sheet metal panels, it is obvious that other materials may be employed while retaining the essential tending over the entire width of the two cabinets.

The vertical frame members 33, 34, 35 are similar .to the frame members if and i3 illustrated mFig. arm right-hand frame member for the cabinet of Fig. 4 being obscured by the side wall 36.

{The top 32 and shelves iii are attachedto the frame members by screws, nails or other suit- .able fastening means passing through the holes inthe said frame members. In the same manner, the wooden panel ft forming the side of the cabinet, is attached to the right-hand frame member (not shown). The front of the cabinet is supported, and the space between the frame members and the floor is closed, by the base member 3's, which is simply a wooden. strip or timber. Likewise, the space at the side of the cabinet between the floor and the lower frame members is closed, and thecabinet supported, by the wooden base member 38. Each section of the cabinet .illustrated in Fig. l is provided with a drawer l5 and a door 2% (see Fig. 7) the frame members .for the cabinet eachhaving a drawer guideway it attached thereto for receiving and guiding the drawers it, the sliding of which is facilitated by rollers l6 attached to the guideways. The elements it and it are identical in nature and function with the guideway l4 and roller it previously described. These drawers and doors may, of course, beformed of either wood or metal, and the drawers are provided with the aforementioned rollers ii for guiding the drawers within the guideways formed by the channelshaped members it. Suitable handles or knobs i! and it are provided on the drawers and doors, respectively, and the latter may be provided with suitable latches to retain them in a closed position.

Turning now to Fig. 8,1 have illustrated a two unit cabinet constructed in accordance with this invention and installed in the upper corner formed by the walls .A and B and ceilingC of a room. In a cabinet of this construction, the corners are provided by vertical frame members til,

ii, 12 and M respectively. These frame membars have a rectangular configuration with the rear vertical side incomplete. The side frame members may be constructed from a single strip of metal having a channehshaped cross section as shown, or may be formed from other materials and from more than one piece if desired. The web of the channel in the frame members it to has a plurality of spaced holes it to provide means. for attaching the said frame members to the walls and ceiling of the room and also for attaching shelves and doors thereto.

These frame members as, ll, i2 and 33 are mounted in vertical upright positions with their planes extending normal to the walls 13 so that the rear vertical sides are in contact with said well to which they are connected by fastening means passing through certain of the aforementioned holes it. The upper sides of the said frame members are each in contact with the.

ceiling C and attached thereto by suitable fastenin -means passing through others of the said spaced holes it. The frame member as is placed in contact with, or slightly spaced from, wall A sothat-the said wall A forms theleft side for thelcompleted cabinetunit. A plurality. of shelves 15 are provided for the cabinet by panels of sheet metal or .wood similar to the panels 31] or 31 previously described. These shelves are connected in horizontal, vertically spaced relationship with the frame members st, H, and 43 .bysuitable fastening means passing through selected ones of the holes it, the lower shelves also serving as the bottom of the cabinet. A side for theright of the cabinet is provided by a panel member it which is secured to the right-hand frame member it by suitable fastening means. A closure for the front of the cabinet is provided .bya pairuof doors 2A, swingingly mounted upon the vertical frame members and provided with suitable. knobs or handles 68.

A single unit cabinet constructed in accord- .ance with this invention is shown in perspective .view in .Fig. 11. This cabinet is of the type which ismsupportedby one wall and the floor of a room in them-antler previously described for the cabinetsillustrated in the Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive. As illustrated, the cabinet comprises a single drawer i5 and a plurality of shelves id which are supported upon frame members (not shown) similar to the frame members, I?! and it of Fig. 2.

These shelves may be either metal panels such as the shelves 353 of Fig. 2, or wooden boards such as the shelves 3! of Fig, 4. Likewise, the cabinet is provided with a top. 5Q which may be either wood or metaland isattached to the top of the frame members in the manner previously described. Base panel members 5| and 52 (similar to panels 2i and 26 or timbersniil and 38) .are provided to support the cabinet andclose the space between the lower portion thereof and the floor. If the cabinet be installed against two walls of a room, in the manner shown in the Figs.

1 and e only one side panel 53 is necessary. On the other hand, if it be desired to have the cabinet mounted against only one wall, a second side panel, identical with is provided for the other side of the cabinet, and a second side base member corresponding to '52, is likewise provided for the left side of the cabinet. The shelf portion of the cabinet is closed by a door 24 constructed of wood, metal or other materials hingedly mounted to one of the vertical frame members.

It will be apparent that while this cabinet has been illustrated as having one drawer and a plurality of shelves to form a plurality of compartments, anumber of variations as to the divisions of the cabinet intc the compartments may be made; L For example, by providing sufficient horizontal guideways, the entirespace of the cabinet mayabe utilized for drawers; or the entire s ace may be given over to shelves. Also, if desired,

certain of the shelves maybe omitted if storage 'space of greater height is de'sired.

are few in number consist of a plurality of frame members and panels which maybe prefabricated to standard sizes and shipped knock-down to the point where they are to be assembled and installedthus conserving space in shipping, with resultant reduction in cost. a By proper selection of the size of the panels forming .thegtop, sides, shelves, and doorsand selection of drawers of desired widths, the same frame members may be used for assembling cabinets of different sizes so as to adapt them to the space requirements in the room where they are to be installed. Moreover, by the use of suitable frame members the interiors of the cabinets may be divided into a plurality of compartments comprising all drawers, all shelves, or any desired combinations of shelves and drawers.

For the purposes of illustration, the cabinets have been shown only as formed of one or two sections. It will be obvious, however, that additional sections of any desired number may be added so that the cabinet unit will extend along one entire wall of a room in which event no side panels are necessary. Also, as heretofore indicated, the material of construction may be wood, metal or other materials or combinations of these and that when multi-sectional units are formed with wooden shelves and top, these members may be each single boards of suificient length to extend the entire width of the finished cabinet or may be formed of separate members, each having the width of a single section of the unit.

While I have disclosed preferred embodiments of the invention in considerable detail, I do not wish to be confined to the exact constructions illustrated but desire to cover all modifications coming within the spirit and scope of my invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A prefabricated cabinet for installation against a wall comprising, a plurality of preformed frame members each comprisin a single elongated piece of metal bent to a substantially quadrangular configuration and having a plurality of holes therein, said frame members being disposed in spaced upright positions with their planes normal to the wall and with one vertical side of each such frame member lying against and adapted to be connected to said wall by fastening means passing through certain of said holes, said frame members constituting the corner posts of the cabinet, a plurality of horizontally extending members carried by the vertical sides of said frame members to provide a plurality of compartments in said cabinet, panel means for closing one or more sides of said cabinet, and fastening means passing through others of said holes in the frame members to secure the panel means thereto.

2. A prefabricated cabinet for installation against a wall comprising, a plurality of preformed frame members each comprising a single elongated piece of metal bent to a substantially rectangular configuration and adapted to be disposed in upright substantially parallel spaced relationship extending normal to the plane of said wall, the said frame members each having spaced holes in the rear vertical portion thereof for receiving fastening means adapted to secure the frame members to said wall, a plurality of vertcally spaced substantially flat preformed sheet metal panels extending between said frame members and connected thereto and including panels forming the top and one or more shelves for the cabinet, a door for the front of the cabinet, means movably mounting said door on one of said frame members, and a preformed side forming sheet metal panel disposed in upright relation and connected to one of said frame members for closing the cabinet on a side thereof.

3. In a cabinet structure of the character described adapted. to be installed against a wall of a room, a plurality of spaced upright frame members each comprising a single elongated piece of metal bent to a substantially rectangular configuration and disposed so that the vertical sides of the frame members form the corner posts of the cabinet, the rear vertical portions of said frame members being provided with holes for receiving fastening means adapted to secure the said frame members to a wall of said room, other frame members extending in a direction from front to back in spaced substantially parallel relation and connected to the vertical sides of said rectangularly shaped frame members, said other frame members being of channel cross-section and forming a runway in the cabinet for a drawer or the like, and a plurality of panels connected to said rectangularly shaped frame members to form the top and at least one side for the cabinet.

4. A prefabricated cabinet for installation against a Wall of a room having a floor comprising, a plurality of preformed frame members each comprising a single elongated piece of metal bent to a substantially rectangular configuration and adapted to be disposed in spaced upright relationship extending substantially normal to the plane of the wall with one of the vertical sides of each such frame member lying against and adapted to be connected to the wall and with the transverse portions of the frame members spaced from said floor, preformed shelfforming sheet metal panels extending between said frame members at spaced elevations and connected thereto, a preformed upright side-forming sheet metal panel connected to one of said frame members for closing the cabinet on one side thereof, and a sheet metal member forming a front closure for the space between said frame members and floor and having supporting engagement with the frame members at a point spaced from said wall.

5. In a prefabricated cabinet for installation against a wall of a room having a ceiling, a plurality of preformed frame members ,each comprising a single elongated piece of metal bent to a substantially rectangular configuration and adapted to be disposed in spaced upright relationship extending substantially normal to the plane of wall with one vertical side of each such frame member lyin against and adapted to be connected to the wall and with the upper side of the frame members adapted to be connected to said ceiling, preformed shelf-forming sheet metal panels extending horizontally between said frame members at spaced elevations and connected thereto, and a preformed upright side-forming sheet metal panel connected to one of frame members for closthe cabinet on a side thereof.

6. In a prefabricated cabinet for installation against a wall of a room having a ceiling, a plurality of preformed frame members each) comprising a single elongated piece of metal bent to a substantially rectangular confi uration and adapted to be disposed in spaced upright relationship extending substantially normal to the plane of said wall with one vertical side of each such frame member lying against and adapted to be connected to the wall and with the upper side of the frame members adapted to be connected to said ceiling, preformed shelf-formin panels extending horizontally between said frame members at spaced elevations connected thereto, and one or more doors movably connected to the front vertical sides of said frame members, and a preformed upright side-forming sheet metal panel connected to one of said frame members for closing the cabinet On a side thereof.

7. In a prefabricated cabinet for installation against a wall of a room having a floor comprising, a plurality of preformed frame members each comprising a single elongated piece of metal bent to a substantially rectangular configuration and adapted to be disposed in upright relationship extending substantially normal to the plane of the wall with one of the vertical sides of each such frame member lying against and adapted to be connected to the wall and with the transverse portions of the frame members spaced from said floor, said frame members being a1- ternately spaced from and closely adjacent each other, means for connecting the vertical sides of said adjacent frame members together, a panellike members forming a front closure for the space between said frame members and floor and having supporting engagement with the frame members at a point spaced from said wall, vertically spaced horizontally extending guideways connected to the two vertical sides of each of a pair of said spaced frame members, a plurality of drawers having guiding means for cooperation with said guideways to enable said drawers to be moved into and out of the space between said pair of frame members, a plurality of shelfforming panels extending between others of said spaced frame members at spaced elevations and connected thereto, and a door movably mounted on one of said last-mentioned frame members to form a movable closure for the shelf space provided by said shelf-forming panels.

8. In a prefabricated cabinet for installation against a wall of a room having a floor comprising, a plurality of preformed frame members each comprising a single elongated piece of metal bent to a substantially rectangular configuration and adapted to be disposed in upright relationship extending substantially normal to the plane of the wall with one of the vertical sides of each of such frame members lying against and adapted to be connected to the wall and with the transverse portions of the frame members spaced from said floor, said frame members being alternately spaced from and closely adjacent each other, means for connecting the vertical sides of said adjacent frame members together, a panel-like member forming a front closure for the space between said frame members and floor and having supporting engagement with the frame members at a point spaced from said wall, a plurality of horizontally extending members carried by the vertical sides 10 of said frame members to provide a plurality of compartments in said cabinet, and a plurality of panel members connected to said frame members to form a top and at least one side for said cabinet.

9. A prefabricated cabinet comprising, a plurality of preformed metal frame members each comprising a single elongated piece of metal bent to a substantially quadrangular configuration and having a plurality of spaced holes therein, said frame members being adapted to form the corners of a finished cabinet when attached to the wall of a building in a vertical position with the plane of each frame member normal to the plane of said wall, a plurality of sheet metal panels having marginal flanges provided with holes spaced to correspond with certain of the holes in the frame members so that said panels may be connected to the said frame members to form shelves and one or more exterior walls of the completed cabinet, and one or more doors provided with hinges adapted to be connected with the frame members to provide a movable closure for the front of the completed cabinet.

10. A prefabricated cabinet comprising, a plurality of preformed frame members each comprising a single elongated piece of metal bent to a substantially rectangular configuration and having a plurality of spaced holes therein, said frame members being adapted to form the corners of a finished cabinet when attached to the wall of a building a vertical position with the plane of each frame member normal to the plane of said wall, drawer guideways connected to at least two of said frame members in spaced parallel relationship and extending transversely thereof, one or more drawers having guiding means for reception in said guideways of the assembled cabinet, and a plurality of panels adapted to be connected with certain of the holes in said frame members to provide a top and shelves for the completed cabinet.

ONNIE. MANKKI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,025,032 Tietz Apr. 30, 1912 1,708,588 Proctor Apr. 9, 1929 1,857,640 Johnson May 10, 1932 1,934,195 Kiesecker Nov. 7, 1933 2,323,589 Frishman July 6, 1943 

